Mainers battling winter blues

Another blast of winter to hit state Wednesday into Thursday

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates nearly 25 million Americans suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

The condition is seven times more common in Maine than in Florida.

So many people are fed up with winter and snow that they're trying to get out of Dodge before the next batch of snow hits on Wednesday.

It looked and felt like spring on Tuesday. News 8's Jim Keithley spotted a runner in shorts along Back Cove.

Don't get used to it, winter is far from over.

Pat and Roger Dunn of Yarmouth are done with the winter weather. They're booking a trip to Charleston, S.C.

"I hope it's a lot warmer," said Pat Dunn.

The Dunns hadn't planned on a trip this year, but that changed when they saw mother nature just won't let go of her winter grip.

"We've been hesitating all winter whether we really wanted to travel or not, and we just decided about a week ago it was time to do something," Dunn said.

Agents at AAA said they've been flooded with calls from snow-fatigued Mainers booking last-minute trips out of town.

"After Sunday's storm, I came in Monday morning I was helping a lot of people who were fed up with the weather and said, "Mary Ellen, get me out of here," said Mary Ellen Lessard, a travel agent at AAA.

She booked half-a-dozen trips on Monday morning alone. Customers are getting some good deals on last minute cruises.

"I've been in the industry a really long time and this is probably one of the busiest winters I have ever worked. It's been really crazy," Lessard said.

There is a very real, clinical term for the winter blues and it's called seasonal affective disorder -- a form of depression said licensed clinical social worker Blanca Gurrola.

"Sadness, anxiety, feeling like you don't enjoy any of your activities like you used to enjoy before, not being able to concentrate, having very low energy, those are all the signs," said Gurrola.

Gurrola said the good news is the disorder will pass as more sunlight returns in the spring. She said there are some things we can do in the meantime to beat the blues.

"Go play outdoors. Expose yourself to the sun. If things get worse, buy an artificial light and expose yourself for a half-an-hour, an hour a day," said Gurrola.

Medical experts said if you feel you have a bad case of SAD, seek counseling because it can be serious for some people.